N. Korea missile test: UN scrambles, allies pledge action
North Korea ignited regional anxieties and triggered global condemnation after launching its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday, December 18th, as reported by Reuters.
The Hwasong-18, fired from an undisclosed eastern location near Pyongyang, traversed 1,002 kilometres before landing in the Sea of Japan.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally observed the launch, framing it as a "potent message" to "hostile forces" inciting "reckless confrontation." He further declared, "This exercise underscored the DPRK's unwavering resolve to retaliate with unparalleled force and overwhelming power."
South Korea and Japan, alarmed by the ICBM's potential range encompassing the United States, vehemently condemned the launch as a "blatant violation" of UN Security Council resolutions. The US joined in, labelling it a "dangerous escalation."
Amidst heightened tensions, China, a permanent member of the Security Council, engaged in high-level talks with North Korean officials in Beijing on Monday. Both sides characterised the discussions as "amicable" and focused on "collaboration and mutual concerns."
The UN Security Council is slated to convene an emergency session today, Tuesday, December 19th, to address the launch. South Korea, Japan, and the US have also announced the activation of a real-time missile detection and assessment system, alongside establishing plans for trilateral military drills in the foreseeable future.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, renowned for his unwavering stance towards North Korea, stated, "The Kim Jong Un regime will ultimately recognize that its provocative actions will only exacerbate its own hardship."
This latest launch represents a significant milestone in North Korea's nuclear program and is likely to exacerbate regional anxieties, while further complicating diplomatic efforts aimed at denuclearization.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
